Support Groups in the Netherlands

Contact details for English-speaking support groups and meetings for AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), drug aid, cancer support meetings, AIDS and more...

Below you will find information on the various support organisations and helplines in the Netherlands, including:

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous in the Netherlands has an English-language version of its website, which gives information on meetings throughout the country.

For up-to-date information on local meetings, contact:

Al-Anon provides support to family and friends of those for whom alcohol has become a problem. Meetings in English take place throughout the Netherlands.

Drug Abuse

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a non-profit fellowship of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. There are English-speaking meetings in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

  • Narcotics Anonymous
    Tel: 062 234 1050 (Amsterdam)
    Tel: 062 234 9638 (Rotterdam)
    Tel: 061 344 6623 (The Hague)
    Tel: 061 217 9265 (Utrecht)
    Tel: 062 2511456 (Breda)

Stop Smoking Support

Smoking Infoline provides information (in Dutch) related to smoking in the Netherlands. The Smoking Infoline is provided by the Trimbos Institute and is funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare & Sport. An adviser, who can suggest local support groups and programmes to help stop smoking, can be reached by telephone.

  • Tel: 0900 1995 (€.10/min) Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00

HIV/Aids

  • AIDS infoline
    Tel:     0900 204 2040 (in English)
    Open: Monday to Friday, 14:00-22:00

Cancer Support

Cancer Care in the Netherlands is usually handled by one of eight comprehensive cancer centres (CCCs). They are there to provide patient care, as well as to help relatives and to conduct further research.

Each CCC has a catchment area of between five and twenty hospitals. The Association of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (ACCC) co-ordinates these and provides information for patients and carers.

  • Association of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (ACCC)
    At    : Trindeborch building, 5th floor, Catharijnesingel 53, Utrecht
    Tel: 030 234 3780 
    Fax: 030 234 36 32 
    email

IKNL (Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland) is the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation for oncological and palliative research and practice. Its mission is to serve the public interest by promoting the fight against cancer, particularly by helping those suffering from cancer and by promoting palliative care.
  • IKNL 
    At: Gebouw Janssoenborch, 8th Floor, Godebaldkwartier 419, 3511 DT Utrecht
    Tel: 088 234 6000

Cancerlink

Cancerlink is an English-speaking network providing support to those with cancer and their family and friends. Telephone support is available on a weekly basis.

  • Helpdesk Tel: 06 2259 0772

The Dutch Cancer Society (KWF Kanker Bestrijding) carries out research, organises cancer prevention programmes (including those to aid smokers to stop smoking), and assists cancer patients and their families.

  • Tel: 020 570 0500
    email

Victim Support

The national Victim Support organisation (Slachtofferhulp Nederland) has a website, as well as 75 regional offices throughout the Netherlands. The organisation provides legal advice and practical support to victims of attack, break-ins, burglaries and muggings, domestic and sexual violence, traffic accidents and stalking.

Regional offices can be contacted by email via their website, by using the local tariff number above, or by visiting a local office.

Addresses for Southeast Netherlands:

  • North Brabant
    At    : Geldropseweg 86a, 5611 SK Eindhoven
  • Limburg region
    At    : Om de Toren, 6191 KZ Beek

Family Support

SOS Missing Children is a helpline providing support and information for parents of missing children. The helpline operates in ten countries in Europe and is available 24/7.

  • Tel: 116 000

Family Planning and Sexual Health

There is a telephone support line for victims of sexual abuse:

  • Tel: 0900 899 8411
    Open: weekdays 09:00-23:00, weekends 15:00-23:00

Rutgers Nisso Group

The Rutgers Nisso Group is a national group dedicated to promoting sexual and reproductive health. It publishes booklets and trains healthcare professionals who help with family planning and counselling victims of sexual harassment and violence.

Information and personal advice on abortion, contraception and sexual health issues is available from:

  • CASA (Centra voor Anticonceptie, Seksualiteir en Abortus) - in Dutch and English
    Tel: 088 888 444
  • SENSE (centrum voor seksuele gesondheid) - in Dutch

Mental Health

GGZ is the national organization dealing with mental health issues.

Women's Support Groups

These numbers will reach the crisis centres (daily, 24 hours a day):

  • Battered Wives (mishandelde / bedreigde vrouwen)
    Tel: 070 392 5774 (The Hague)
    Tel: 010 476 1680 (Rotterdam)

Children’s Support Groups

Kinder Telefoon is an anonymous advice line for children and teenagers to discuss their problems. Trained volunteers run the telephone service.

  • Kinder Telefoon (in Dutch)
    Tel    : 0800 0432
    Tel: 0900 0132 (from mobile)
    Open: Everyday 14:00-20:00

AMK (Het Advies- en Meldpunt Kindermishandeling) provides a helpline for advice and complaints about child abuse.

SOS Missing Children is a helpline providing support and information for parents of missing children. The helpline operates in ten countries in Europe and is available 24/7.

  • Tel: 116 000

Crisis Support

Sensor provide a support helpline and email for people experiencing depression or loneliness.

Eating Disorders

Gamblers Anonymous

  • Gamblers Anonymous Netherlands
    Tel    : 0900 217 7721 / 064 341 1985

Further Information